A Cook County judge allowed a class-action alleging chronic understaffing at six Alden-run nursing homes to proceed, exposing the operator to potential damages and discovery. Plaintiffs say staffing was often far below legal minimums.

One lot of Xanax XR (Lot 8177156) has been recalled after failing dissolution testing. Patients with 60‑count 3mg bottles should check labels and contact their pharmacist or prescriber.

FOX 32’s ChicagoLIVE flagged a $51M jury award tied to a missed blood‑glucose test, raising fresh questions about ER screening and malpractice exposure.

Chicago researchers and imaging studies link smoking to brain shrinkage and higher dementia odds, and evidence suggests quitting in midlife can cut that risk.

A new report finds overdose deaths falling overall but shows Black Chicagoans continue to die at higher rates, prompting calls for targeted harm‑reduction and treatment.

Cook County warns of measles exposures at O’Hare Terminal 5 and two Niles stores this week. Health officials urge people to check vaccination status and contact county clinics.

Winnebago County says ticks tested positive for the rare Powassan virus; officials urge repellents, long clothing and careful tick checks as spring arrives.

Vista Medical Center East pledged roughly $2 million to redeem past-due property taxes after a tax buyer threatened foreclosure. The payment would pause a legal fight that could affect local services and taxing districts.

Lurie Children’s analysis finds emergency triage can misclassify children in mental‑health crises, contributing to unsafe discharges and long waits for psychiatric beds.

Food & Water Watch mapping shows counties that spray the most glyphosate often have higher late‑stage non‑Hodgkin lymphoma rates, concentrated in the Upper Midwest.

Chicago health officials say RSV activity is unusually high for mid‑March and are weighing extended infant immunizations as ER visits and wastewater signals climb.

A new MESA analysis finds that each extra daily serving of ultraprocessed food modestly raises cardiovascular risk, with the biggest effects seen in Black participants. The findings are reported in JACC: Advances.

Contract talks between Prime Healthcare and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois could push eight Chicago-area hospitals out‑of‑network, risking higher bills for many patients.